Philippines Says 23 People Died in Clash Between Army, Militants

 

At least 23 soldiers and militants have been killed in fighting in the Lanao del Sur province of the Philippines since Saturday, according to officials. Google Maps image

Cecilia Yap

Philippine authorities said 23 people were killed and 70 injured in a day-long clash between soldiers and militants in the southern province of Basilan on Saturday.

Eighteen soldiers died in the incident, while five of the fatalities were members of the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, including Moroccan national Mohammad Khattab, military spokesman Major Filemon Tan said in a mobile-phone message.

Tan said that among the militants killed was the son of Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, who is on the U.S. Department of State’s most wanted list with a cash reward of as much as $5 million for information that leads to his arrest.